Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-08-04

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10 those rare strangers whom chance brings
into my parish-,Jcan Louis - lac coniin-
ued, addressing a chorister boy, ''go and
| tell PhlOmene TO set the table for two, and
| Ia give n double allowance of eggs 10 her
omelcttc. You will have poor fare, sir, for
our resources are very limited. But you
know what is written in the Book of Prov
erbs, Better is n dinner of herbs where love
is than a stalled OK and hatred Herewith. =
Something more than herbs graced the
| pastors table at breakfast, aud il was none
the less generous n repast for being so hear
| tily offered The omclette of sorrcl was ac-
companicd 10y trout boiled in wine sauce
and savory ham-the whole being season
cd with mild wine Of the Montsauseon-
nais, which in the ribbed glass assumed a
| pleasant tint OF gooseborry green. Ny host
was mcrrily inclined, and evidently knew
| how 10 set folks at their ease. SO, when the
dessert came on, which consisted of fresh
hazelnuts and madeleine pears just gather
ed from the garden, made MP my mind 10
| question the good priest concerning that re-
markable clarionct interlude which puzzled
me SO much.
| Monsieur le cure l began, you will
| perhaps think me inquisitive. but l attend
ed high mass and | confess | was a little
astonishcd-"
| 81 know what you are going to say" he
interrupted good humoredly, ''my clarionet
solo scandalized You. You are not the first;
and as do not wish 10 scandalize any one,
owe you an explanation, and you shall
have it."
"When monseigneur coniided TO me the
direction of this parish (and that will he
fifteen years ago come the Feast of Sain;
George found Vireloup in the most de
plorable condition, both moral and material
"A population Of savages. sir, and what is
worse, population of heathens The men
and women spent every day in the woods,
including Sunday and as soon as the chill
dren got to he twelve years old they left
school and catcchism To roam in the forest
The whole set of them reSembled n herd oi
deer much more than community oi
Christians. You saw our church. 1t Is not
rich but at that time it was very barn,
where the dandelions grew among the pave
mcnt. And l give you my word, sir, that II
was not the frequent coming together OF my
parishioncrs that hindered grass from grow
ing there On Sundays | celebrated holy
mass in presence of ten aged women and rs
1 Z n 41 y1...x- 90.
showed themselves in church at ALL In
vain each Sunday did | expend all my elo-
qucncc My sermons would sooner have
touched the stone pillars than the hearts
of those infdels.
IL was deeply distressed over this state o.
affairs. One spring evening, after mourn
fully rejecting over this hardness of heart
which was n real modification to me, | adj
dressed fervcnt prayer to the all-kindGod
beseeching Him to come to my aid, for my
part, my labor was being spent in vain
The prayer having refreshed my heart, tn,
thought came suddenly into my head that
would divert myself from this gloomy
frame of mind by a little music. In my
| 1
: the clarionet, and ! had brought my inStru
mcnt along with me when | came to Wire
loup. | went TO seek it AT the bottom of ;
cupboard and set about playing through IN,
whole list of airs. The evening being sui
try, had opened my library window, an,
rs | glanrar into the street while pauSin:
between two pieces l beheld n cOnsiderabl
assemblage there. The whole parish hat
congregated in front of my door Thes
folk had never heard any other music THAI
that of the larlIs or the village herdsman'
horn. Thus they gave very evident signs o
an enthusiastic admiration and when
ceased playing there was general murmu
of disappointment i'll the street.
, ''This was for me glimpse OF light, an,
J rs it were providential teaching. Sine
| these pagans were affected by music, tha
was the means through which they coul
r be brought to mass. But how to set abou
it? Our church had not even a harmo
. mum, and was too poor to purchase one
, Then | thought that in default of an orga
9 my clarionet might do perhaps. And VIII
: not +? The important point was to gai